There are Pastors who make it their calling to identify and call out false teachers, preachers, prophets, and healers, in the Church today. They call them out by name. I am not entirely opposed to this. We should always bring Truth to a lie. Yet, the Bible does set some guidelines for this type of behavior. The first guideline would be love - first for God and His Kingdom, and then love for others.
I have been guilty of joining in the choir of Caller Outers. I apologize, and repent. There are accounts, and words from God, in the Holy Bible where God specifically says He does not appreciate sacrifices which come from our own impulses (profane fire). Rather, God wants obedience from His Children, and for us to seek His Counsel. Our own potentially flawed initiative - however zealous - can be declared as 'good intentions' when, in truth, we have gone our own way in service to God. God, instead, calls us to rest in Him, confident of His sufficiency. He is the Potter. We are the clay. What God desires of us is trust and obedience - just like the old time Hymn says!
God has convicted me of this - forging ahead on my own impulses believing I am in service to God. Does calling out falsehoods, and naming names, involve slander? Does my behavior hurt the testimony of Jesus Christ? Does my behavior hurt another's testimony? Is my behavior really an evil manifestation of my heart to be prideful, mean spirited, and gossipy?
What is done in obedience to God will not only encourage, but will also edify (correct), and honor and glorify God and His Kingdom. It will never go contrary to the Holy Scriptures we have already been given. God is One, and will never contradict Himself. If we see contradiction in His Words the problem lies with us, not the scriptures and their intent. When in obedience to God one will never cause harm to the Kingdom of God, nor to another's God given testimony.
I will give a few examples of the false calling out the false. There is a Pastor who labels all visions of Jesus, Heaven, or Hell, as 'false' and demonic. This he does even if the slandered testimony is entirely scripturally sound. This Pastor justifies his practice from one or two verses he finds in the Holy Bible which he believes support his accusations and claims. He does this to the point, now, of being slanderous and gossipy - in my estimation. Zealous pride seems to have replaced zealous love. He brings doubt and harm to other's testimonies, having set himself up as the expert, judge, and authority.
Let's see what accounts the Holy Bible gives regarding those who have a testimony of 'seeing Jesus Christ':
Stephen saw Jesus in Acts 7.
Acts 7:54-60
[54]When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
[55]But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
[56]And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
[57]Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
[58]And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
[59]And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
[60]And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
In the Book of Acts Saul, (later becoming Paul), received a visitation from Jesus – and it transformed him, by REPENTANCE and obedience to Jesus’ personal instructions to Him.
Repentance is what Jesus taught on earth. A true vision of Jesus Christ will - first, and foremost - lead one to repentance, and produce a true conversion in that individual's life. It will in no way contradict scripture. We are to TEST THE SPIRITS! Then the visited individual can't help but take the powerful testimony God has given them into the world, bringing others to repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ! Only the devil will seek to destroy and discount such a powerful testimony for Jesus Christ.
Saul's account is in Acts 9:3-21. We will see that after his encounter, with the real Jesus Christ, Saul experiences repentance and conversation - in obedience to Jesus Christ :
[3]And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
[4]And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
[5]And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
[6]And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
[7]And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
[8]And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
[9]And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
[10]And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
[11]And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
[12]And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
[13]Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
[14]And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
[15]But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16]For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
[17]And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
[18]And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
[19]And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
[20]And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
[21]But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
What about Heavenly Visits?
In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul speaks of 'visions and revelations', and relates an account of an individual who was caught up into the ‘third Heaven’, and 'Paradise'. Paul does not say he was caught up, but relates the testimony of another who was caught up. He does not negate or malign this individual's testimony. He uses it for the edification and encouragement of the Body of Believers.
2 Corinthians 12:1-12
[1]It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
[2]I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
[3]And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
[4]How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
[5]Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
[6]For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
[7]And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
[8]For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
[9]And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
[10]Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
[11]I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
[12]Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
As far as visions of hell, I simply test them against the scriptures - what the Bible tells us of hell. It was through someone's experience of hell that I saw the truth of the Holy Scriptures, and the truth of myself and the gravity of my sins leading to repentance, and salvation in Jesus Christ. In this salvation experience God taught me to fear Him - and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! Jesus spoke of hell many times. ANY vision must coincide with scripture and lead others to salvation in Jesus Christ, repentance from sin, and obedience.
The only measure we should use against another’s testimony is if it is in line with scripture – such as professing Jesus as the Christ, leading to repentance and obedience. Slander and gossip are grave and harmful sins. A false and self appointed Watchman will lead many astray from their walk with Jesus to focus on false teachers and prophets instead of Jesus and His Kingdom, and doubting their conversion experience.
In the end we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, and the Word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11).
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